EDITOR, The Tribune
I was visiting Nassau during April for vacation. It was our first trip to the Bahamas; we were inspired by the beautiful beaches, friendly people, warm climate and great water sports and it looked like Paradise at first glance. We took a trip to downtown Nassau, which included the famous Straw Market and Prince George Wharf, and that is where the trip changed.
We saw emaciated horses struggling to pull overloaded carriages filled with tourists. The horses were visibly in pain, very thin and overworked. We walked to the spot on the Wharf where the drivers line the horses and carriages up waiting for tourists; we were visibly disturbed as this was obviously one of the local tourist attractions.
A short time later down the street, we were most pleased when we saw a local Nassau police officer writing a ticket to a driver who had overloaded his Surrey with too many tourists. What was most discouraging was that the tourists did not seem to notice the cart was overloaded or the horse was struggling to move under the weight.
We were pleased when we learned there is a mandatory rest period for the horses each afternoon, but judging from the condition of the horses, this is obviously not enough. If the government continues to allow this type of tourist attraction, there must be stricter standards that should address the care, feeding, and quality of life for the horses.
We understand the struggle for the local population to make a living from the tourists, but this should not be at the expense of the horses’ wellbeing. We are hopeful that the tourist industry and/or the local government will work toward better quality of life for these horses; it is desperately needed.
DENISE HOWARD
Springfield, VA,
April 28, 2015.
Comments
gbgal 9 years, 6 months ago
The time has come to eliminate the surreys from the streets! Modern life and traffic cannot accommodate them now especially during business hours. Perhaps evening rides on designated routes? In any case, these poor horses cannot continue. It is cruel to use them this way...heat, pollution, traffic, minimal care, over loading, add up to cruelty! Poor reflection on The Bahamas.
barkley825 9 years, 6 months ago
The starving, sick horses are many tourists first sight of the Bahamas - they should have been banned long ago. It is sad to watch these horses continue to suffer, wake up Bahamas and make the change.
pat 9 years, 6 months ago
The tourists should boycott the horse drawn carriages until the treatment and health of the horses improves. These horses are making money for many of the people of the Bahamas and they should be treated with love and respect.
avidreader 9 years, 6 months ago
Many years ago (in the early 1970s) I remember seeing a similar situation with emaciated horses trying to pull surreys around La Vega in the central mountains of the Dominican Republic. It was not a pretty sight. In all fairness it does seem to me that the horses in Nassau were in generally better condition many years ago than at present. Are they victims of these economic times in which we live at present?
barkley825 9 years, 6 months ago
The horses may be victims of the strained economic situation in the Bahamas, but there are options - and I think each of us has a responsibility to voice our concerns to the government in the Bahamas. What one cannot accomplish many can. What about scooters or pedal carts? Leave the horses out of it.
horselover 9 years, 6 months ago
I am working with the cruise lines to try to limit the number of tourists visiting Nassau from the ships until the situation improves. This is a travesty and no one in the Bahamas seems to take it seriously! What a sad representation for the Bahamas - to see starving, sick horses forced to pull loads time after time. Wake up Bahamas - this needs to stop!
ObserverOfChaos 9 years, 6 months ago
Welcome to the Bahamas Denise.....same thing goes on with any livestock here in Bahamas...and the government treats their citizens almost as bad....
april921 8 years, 6 months ago
It is horrible how the horses are starved and worked to near death. They can hardly stand. Makes the Bahamas look really bad! There has to be something we can do to help these poor horses.What can we do?
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